Dr. Thomas Barnes (pictured) is a renowned doctor in Newport Beach of 18 years who specializes in cosmetic surgery and procedures. He is the host of Expert Voices. For more information on Dr. Barnes please visit www.lunchtimemakeovers.com

Next Advanced Medicine is an advertising partner with the Orange County Register.

(Sponsored Content

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Most patients who suffer with Type 2 Diabetes have a problem with getting glucose and insulin into the cells to make energy. Essentially their cells are resistant to letting the glucose and insulin in. We call this insulin resistance. The more insulin resistant you get the higher your blood sugars go. If you can't get your sugar(glucose) into your cells, it gets converted to fat and cholesterol. This is why patients with type 2 diabetes gain weight so easily and end up with high cholesterol and often subsequent heart disease.

How does one become a Type 2 Diabetic?

Most patients with Type 2 Diabetes think they have a problem with their pancreas. Although this is true for Type 1 Diabetics, it is generally not the case with Type 2 Diabetics. There are a multitude of reasons that our cells can become resistant to letting the insulin and glucose in. Too much sugar or carbohydrates in the diet, going too long without eating, stress, diet sodas and even some of the medications given to Diabetics for their disease can cause further insulin resistance. This leads to the disease worsening over time and the patient having to increase their medication to battle the disease.

Why are Diabetic patients so frustrated?

It's not only frustration, but it's also fear. They typically get diagnosed on a random doctor's visit for some other health issue or a physical. The doctor comes back with lab results and says, “Hey, you’re a diabetic,” and the next thing they know they are given a prescription. They get their first diabetic medication, they get told to lose weight, change their diet, exercise, and that's pretty much the extent to which diabetics are counseled in the beginning. That sets them on a cycle of one medication after the other and so they come back and they recheck their labs, blood sugars are not where they need to be, so it's maximize the dosage on the first medication, add another medication. Next thing you know, there is blood pressure medication, cholesterol medications, and unfortunately many type 2 diabetics are now having to use insulin to control their blood sugars. All the while, they are gaining more weight, year after year, they are seeing their energy levels decline, they see themselves deteriorating and they are really fearful of the complications that this disease tends to create. The heart disease, amputations, blindness, kidney disease etc.

How is your approach different?

We are interested in finding out the cause of the disease. The truth of the matter is that type 2 diabetics at some point were able to regulate their own blood sugar. So what happened, why can't they now? Regardless if the disease is hereditary or not the disease can usually be figured out. In finding the cause or causes of their inability to regulate their own blood sugar, we must do very thorough testing. Likely more thorough then they have ever been tested in their life. We have to check the blood, urine, saliva, DNA bowel test, check all the hormones etc. to find out why they have the disease. Then we customize our treatment plan for that individual. So, as a type 2 diabetic walks into our office, we have no idea what we are going to give them. We don't know what diet; we don’t know anything that their therapy is going to be until we figure out the cause of what's going on. When we work at the root cause of the disease, that is how you get the disease to go away.

What are your results?

We see people begin to no longer need these medications. They reduce and eliminate their need and dependency for medications across the board, insulin, blood pressure medications, cholesterol medications. They lose weight without exercise, and I talk to a lot of diabetics and when I start telling them the typical results they kind of look at me like, “You must be crazy,” right? I always tell them we have the luxury of going into our practice and being able to tell our patient's with integrity that this is what we experience in our office. Many of our diabetics become nondiabetic. They no longer have the disease.

So, Diabetes is reversible?

Yes, that is for sure possible. We do it all day long, and we rarely see a diabetic fail. When you are really looking at the root cause of what is going on, what's causing this disease process, and then correct those imbalances then the body can actually heal itself, and you can regulate your blood sugar again.

The solution to your suffering is only a phone call away. If you would like to see if you qualify for a type 2 diabetic evaluation, please call 949-786-5050, or visit the website at Nextadvancedmedicine.com. The first 20 people to call, if they qualify, will receive two free consultations. That is a $490 value.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.